Multi-level marketing/pyramid schemes and the people who fall for them

[toilet_rainbow]

What the fuck is up with these candles and why do people keep buying them?

A lot of reasons:

1) Pets smell even if they're clean
2) Provide ambiance and set mood
3) Great for when company come over
4) Generally cheap (if you're not plunking money on say, Diptyque). Wax melts are even cheaper and you don't have to worry about a flame unless you use a tealight warmer
5) Easy to give as gifts
6) Come in so many scents that any one can find something they like
7) I just like them

Scentsy's gimmick is that they're "healthy" (lol) and don't melt hot enough for kids to burn themselves if they're dumb enough to put their fingers in the wax pool (watch your fucking kids).

An interesting note about Scentsy- they also partner with Autism Speaks (ugh) so they have literal autism themed warmers and knockoff Beanie Babies

 

[Capsaicin Addict]

View attachment 494402

I regret that I can only give you one Winner for this. It's one of my favorite scenes from Airplane and you made it even better

 

[CrunkLord420]

Scentsy's gimmick is that they're "healthy" (lol) and don't melt hot enough for kids to burn themselves if they're dumb enough to put their fingers in the wax pool (watch your fucking kids).

That's no fun, coating your finger tips in wax a childhood staple, like putting your tongue on 9v battery terminals.

 

[Francis E. Dec Esc.]

I regret that I can only give you one Winner for this. It's one of my favorite scenes from Airplane and you made it even better

I just found it on /r/antimlm.

 

[Vaganabanana]

View attachment 490478

Can you at least pick up your bathroom Karen before selfie time?

 

[Cosmos]

 

[The Great Citracett]

It's summertime and the idiots are out in full force:

So this barely literate girl I went to school with has paid "like 3 out of 10 bills" with this AMAZING company. Which company is this? Well if 10 of you message her, you just might find out!

Also have you heard about THAT CRAZY WRAP THING!? (That's what I'm getting this "business" is).

A good thing about MLMs is that it's super easy to weed out the crazy MLM girls on dating apps though. Every single one has their career prominently listed as "entrepreneur", "business owner", "consultant", "independent distributor", or some cutesy variation of "boss b*tch" even when you know damn well they work at that gas station down the street.

 

[Capsaicin Addict]

I've found the best way to get rid of toxins, myself, is to get a good night's sleep and take a proper shit.

Seriously. Sleep is one of the best things you can do to stay healthy. And frankly, I always feel better after a proper sit-down on the porcelain throne. Bring a magazine (or your phone/tablet), don't rush it, and afterwards you'll feel better.

 

[Tragi-Chan]

I remember Amway actually had a storefront near where I used to work in London. I don’t know what the deal was, whether it was just their HQ with a slick display to bring in the rubes or it was an actual shop. At the time, all I knew was that it was this American company that was known for being shady.

I stuck my head in and noped the fuck out immediately. It kind of reminded me of the Church of Scientology storefront nearby, in that it all looked really slick and glamorous, but it had that creepy trying-too-hard vibe. I don’t know if it’s still there.

 

[Dysnomia]

A lot of reasons:

1) Pets smell even if they're clean
2) Provide ambiance and set mood
3) Great for when company come over
4) Generally cheap (if you're not plunking money on say, Diptyque). Wax melts are even cheaper and you don't have to worry about a flame unless you use a tealight warmer
5) Easy to give as gifts
6) Come in so many scents that any one can find something they like
7) I just like them

Scentsy's gimmick is that they're "healthy" (lol) and don't melt hot enough for kids to burn themselves if they're dumb enough to put their fingers in the wax pool (watch your fucking kids).

An interesting note about Scentsy- they also partner with Autism Speaks (ugh) so they have literal autism themed warmers and knockoff Beanie Babies

The cheap scented candles at Rite Aid and Walmart seem fine to me.

The only MLM I’ve been tempted to buy myself is Scentsy because I’m into that wax melt stuff, but their claims are laughable and I can get just as good or better for less. Plus their warmers, cute as they are, suck ass from what I hear.

My mom bought from Avon and The Pampered Chef from friends as a kid. I remember them being fine (I particularly have fond memories of a scented Avon polish and their Skin So Soft line) but I’m sure you can get The Pampered Chef type stuff for cheaper elsewhere.

A form of MLM stands are all over my local mall. One time a guy shilling a curling iron that allegedly doesn’t burn you grabbed me before I could run away and took my hand onto it. Then he told me I was bullshitting him about it burning me even as I showed him the red, blistering mark forming.

I would have threatened to sue. I do see those curling iron people at the mall. I steer clear. My hair requires special care because I have lupus and I don't want someone grabbing me and trying to ruin it. And they will try to get you to let them do your hair.

 

[Education Lottery]

A lot of reasons:

1) Pets smell even if they're clean
2) Provide ambiance and set mood
3) Great for when company come over
4) Generally cheap (if you're not plunking money on say, Diptyque). Wax melts are even cheaper and you don't have to worry about a flame unless you use a tealight warmer
5) Easy to give as gifts
6) Come in so many scents that any one can find something they like
7) I just like them

Scentsy's gimmick is that they're "healthy" (lol) and don't melt hot enough for kids to burn themselves if they're dumb enough to put their fingers in the wax pool (watch your fucking kids).

An interesting note about Scentsy- they also partner with Autism Speaks (ugh) so they have literal autism themed warmers and knockoff Beanie Babies

On the topic of home fragrance scams, I'm somehow reminded of the diamond candles. No, they're not MLM so it's off-topic, but they're undeniably just as annoying. Perhaps I should see if I have enough material for a thread on them if they're still relevant these days.

 

[Dial M for Misgender]

If you dont have a home electroplating plant and methiary / plastic burnery you probably neednt worry about some nebulous idea of "toxins".

 

[toilet_rainbow]

The cheap scented candles at Rite Aid and Walmart seem fine to me.

I would have threatened to sue. I do see those curling iron people at the mall. I steer clear. My hair requires special care because I have lupus and I don't want someone grabbing me and trying to ruin it. And they will try to get you to let them do your hair.

Walmart does have nice candles for the price. I also only buy Yankee and B&BW if they're on sale. You really shouldn't have to pay full price for a candle unless it's a small business, and even those have sales from time to time.

That's a regret of mine. Didn't even need to follow through, just say something besides "WTF look at my hand WTF is wrong with you." I had long hair at the time, and my natural hair color is a certain kind that gets complimented on a lot. So I get targeted for a lot of hair related crap and scams all the time. I'm sorry you have to worry about that, too.

On the topic of home fragrance scams, I'm somehow reminded of the diamond candles. No, they're not MLM so it's off-topic, but they're undeniably just as annoying. Perhaps I should see if I have enough material for a thread on them if they're still relevant these days.

Haha, yes. I was never tempted with those but I know exactly what you're talking about. It's like they disappeared overnight.

 

[Stephanie Bustcakes]

I have a friend whose sister just started with Itworks and is flooding her social media with it. The problem is that she's really hot, so people aren't going to call her out or disagree with her. Lol at least it might get her some sales. I guess it would make sense that health based mlms would target thin attractive people. Nobody is going to buy weight loss woo from obese people. (?)

 

[Capsaicin Addict]

I have a friend whose sister just started with Itworks and is flooding her social media with it. The problem is that she's really hot, so people aren't going to call her out or disagree with her. Lol at least it might get her some sales. I guess it would make sense that health based mlms would target thin attractive people. Nobody is going to buy weight loss woo from obese people. (?)

Offer to buy stuff in exchange for nudes.

 

[Monika H.]

I don't know what they think the term is supposed to mean, but as far as I'm concerned, an entrepreneur is someone who has done something innovative, and made a success of it, not some unscrupulous chancer who spends every waking hour outside of working a minimum wage job trying to latch onto the next big get-rich-quick racket.

Totally agree.
Although it doesn't need to be innovative - being and entrepreneur means starting a new business from scratch or taking over an old one and make it profitable.
An entrepreneur has an idea, be it opening a revolutionary Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant or a simple uptown tavern, and puts his time, money and energy on the project, all by himself/herself. This applies to other business ventures, be it shipping, construction, IT, etc.
Fact is, to be an entrepreneur you are supposed to be independent.
Something that people who fall for MLMs fails to realize to, since they are bottom in an unofficial hierarchical scale.

I've found the best way to get rid of toxins, myself, is to get a good night's sleep and take a proper shit.

As an old paean saying of my country says: "There's no malaise that a good meal, piss, sleep or fuck can't cure. Now, what's your pick?"

 

[KemChy]

in my country at the beginning of 90s and the fall of communism we had 2 major private banks appear out of nowhere by a couple of very rich individuals nobody knew before. they promised that if you saved money in their bank your savings would enormously multiply. at first if you withdrew your cash early it did pay off but 90% of people got screwed since the bank eventually declared bankrupcy and nobody got anything in return.

 

[Education Lottery]

Haha, yes. I was never tempted with those but I know exactly what you're talking about. It's like they disappeared overnight.

They're still around, and there are different brands of them now so that might be why. I think it's kind of evened out?

What seems to be catching on in that same vein IS part of an MLM, though: "pearl parties." I heard about them, and they're absolutely ridiculous. I know Vantel Pearls uses them as a marketing ploy, and some others may. If you've seen those DIY pearl oysters in a can, this is just taking those and kicking it up to worse levels. Those kits are so cheap, too. The issue is that the MLM will get them and hustle them as sea oyster pearls, whearas originally they're openly marketed as what they are: freshwater cultured pearls, some of which have been dyed.

From what I understand, for every item you buy, the host will open an oyster from a can for you. Whatever pearl you get, they're sent back to the company to (supposedly) set into whatever jewelry you bought. I'm almost impressed at how clever this is since "jewelry" and "surprise" seem to be a winning combo. But it's irritating to see people being miscalculated about the nature and origin of these pearls. Misinforming customers is bad enough as it is in the jewelry sales world.

Here's a good post about them and the scam from a page dedicated to them: https://www.facebook.com/PearlPartyEducation/posts/704679539699769

Spoiler: Questions About Oyster Opening Pearl Parties.

The oysters and pearls being bought and sold in this manner are a multi-level marketing sham.

How long has this been happening?
In history, these pick-a-pearl outlets have been around for decades, mainly targeting tourists at kiosks in high traffic areas. In recent times, a number of companies have targeted individuals under a pyramid style scheme.

Are these pearls genuine?
Yes, but their origin is grossly misrepresented. They are previously harvested from freshwater operations in China. These pearls are re-mass produced by inserting them into one year old akoya oysters, then deceptively marketed as saltwater pearls.

What are the values of these pearls?
The pearls are worth less than a dollar, many merely a few cents and some may have no value at all. Manufacturers add value by dying them and artificially placing them in hatchery reared saltwater oysters, then selling them to distributors who deliberately mislead unsuspecting individuals to resell to gullible or vulnerable buyers under the guise of bargains and mysteriousness. These are almost always mounted to inferior quality, even shoddy trinkets which are also grossly over-valued if not entirely misrepresented for their metal content. The greater number of individuals reselling these are not pearl experts, nor jewelers. The appraisal sheets they've been instructed to quote from are outright fraudulent.
Is watching a pearl opening a learning experience?
If one considers a carnival side show with allure of winning a big teddy bear, then sure, but most would consider those as shamelessly fixed venues. P. T. Barnum said it best "a sucker is born every minute".
Finding an artificially planted pearl in a foreign host is not an experience to be cherished nor a discerning marketing choice. It's a gamble, where odds are greatly stacked for increased returns to the upper levels of the pyramid. The markup is more than 1000% of otherwise widely available pearls. Aside from this, the likelihood of finding a match (ear studs, for example) is infinitesimal, if not outrageously expensive. It would cost hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars to match a pair of earring that could easily be purchased from a reputable dealer for a substantially lesser cost.

Are these oysters safe to handle or eat?
No they are not. The chemicals used to preserve these oysters has not been adequately disclosed. The distributors claim they are preserved in "edible alcohol", but that likely means ethanol which becomes toxic when used to treat dead tissues, borne of polluted or otherwise un-monitored water quality. Because of this wilful lack of disclosure and overall dubious nature of the industry, there is growing suspicion these oysters are treated in highly toxic compounds such as formalin or brominated solutions. Alcohol diluted with water is NOT sufficient to preserve tissues in the absence of refrigeration. It is illegal in North America and many parts of Europe to ship ethanol by mail or courier without proper accompanying documentation.
The greater number of party hosts wear no barrier protection at all. They eat and drink or touch hair and other bodily parts without adequate washing after handling. What's worse? Allowing children to handle these. Not only does it risk toxic exposure, it instills and perpetuates behavior in dishonest ways, though not always deliberate or knowingly. Mainly because the distributors of these oysters do not provide adequate training in safe handling, nor material safety data sheets (MSDS) as required by occupational health authorities in many countries.
If not properly disposed, these oysters may sicken or kill pets and other animals.

Is it possible to acquire oysters from otherwise legitimate pearl farmers?
No it is not. Pearl farmers are not in any position to compete with charlatans. Most farms have strict regulations prohibiting relaying oysters to unspecified areas by any means. Most countries insist all remaining shells be returned to the waters of the immediate area of harvest. Hatchery rearing oysters for a farm is a risky, labor intensive and very expensive undertaking. These may take as long as three years before even becoming a candidate for the process. Oysters harvested from the wild are gathered by professional divers, who often work in dangerous conditions and expect a fair return for their catches. Oysters selected for implants are operated upon by highly skilled technicians who work with the deftness and knowledge of surgeons. They often use highly nuanced, proprietary techniques which are non-patented or site specific methods. These methods may be co-opted by unscrupulous competitors. The grow out period of grafted oysters is one to three years. Not every oyster yields a quality gem. In fact, most are low value or entirely worthless. Only a small percentage of any crop will fetch a premium. This is the bread and butter and the basis of survival in a highly risky venture.
Anyone with two hands and one good eye in a sweat shop situation can fake a pearl bearing oyster.
Why are treatments and pearl origins not disclosed to consumers?
Simply put, if these were widely known they're would be no business. Instead of advancing pearl education and ethical practices, they're deliberately avoided. Instead, an onus is put upon the willful ignorance and social networking skills of unsuspecting, yet motivated party hosts.

- Contributed by Dave LeBlanc
(Dave is a Marine Biologist and an expert in growing pearls - Admin)

in my country at the beginning of 90s and the fall of communism we had 2 major private banks appear out of nowhere by a couple of very rich individuals nobody knew before. they promised that if you saved money in their bank your savings would enormously multiply. at first if you withdrew your cash early it did pay off but 90% of people got screwed since the bank eventually declared bankrupcy and nobody got anything in return.

This sounds like a precursor to HYIP scamming, which are usually described as a pyramid scheme games. Those websites operate similarly and count on less savvy people to join to make people who got in and out early richer.

 

[Coccxys]

My girlfriend gets constant invites to Anne Summers parties, which has to be the strangest MLM ever. For those who don't know it is a shop that sells sexy lingerie and sex toys. You can get in on it by buying in, buying your stock and then try to sell it by having an "Anne Summers party" round your house. Which a whole level of weird, a group of women around someone's house all buying, selling and trying (and you know the types of people who do this sort of thing) sex toys. The thing is they have a website and actual brick and mortar shops so the people "buying in" are competing against the actual company and the stores and website often have sales and deals that the "party hosts" can't offer or match. I can't see how anyone falls for that one, it is obvious that you can't compete against the company you're selling for.

 

[D.Va]

I just looked up what Scentsy was and I think I saw one of these resellers at a Christmas market last year. This middle-aged lady noticed me looking at the sign for these flameless wax warmers and gave me a sales pitch, she said it would "remove toxins from the air" which raised a red flag in my head but I didn't want to call her out on it. If I didn't already have regular candles and she didn't use buzzwords I might have considered because they looked like a nice little novelty, but once she finished her pitch I moved on.

The holder designs on Scentsy's website look familiar to what she was peddling. MLM garbage shouldn't be allowed in local markets.